Automatic latch with push-button release



0- H. B. KEATS AUTOMATIC LATCH WITH PUSH-BUTTON RELEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 11, 1937 J 1940- H. B. KEATS 2,188,642

I AUTOMATIC LATCH WITH PUSH-BUTTON RELEASE Filed Nov. 11, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 J a 1 2 2 8 2 5 n J 4 4 v I L1 v v w fa NH I 070 5 why 1z 6 W 3 4m W I B W @w a a MW 4 M T 0 E fl 4 w w IIIIIIIIIIlF v 5 M. a v3 WU Patented Jan." 30, 1940 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC urron wl'rnPUSH-BUTTON I RELEASE Harold Beatson Keats, Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada, 'assignor of one-half to Frances Gertrude Girdlestone,Vancouver,Brltish Columbia, Canada Application November 11, 1937, SerialNo. 174,116

18 'cl l eflcl. 292-181) v This invention relates to automatic latches,

and hasfor one of its objects the production of a simple andefilcientlatch having a push-button release, whereby the latch may beautomatically I 'unlatched by pushing upon a push-button.

A further object of this invention is the .production of a simple andefllcient means for automatlcally operating the latch as the door orsupa port carry ng the latch is moved to a closed D position. 1 v

Other objectsand advantages of this invention will appear throughout thefollowing mechanism with the parts in. a latched position of theactuatingbolt 2i, the track 23 and lip 20 u and showing the supportstrwcture'in section;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the latch- 7 ing mechanism withthe parts in a released positionand showing the supporting structureinsection Figure 5 is a' horizontal sectional view taken ,v g

I actuating bolt 2gigi extends through a suitable on. line 5-5 of Figure4;

I Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on linet-O of Figure 2; vz

Figure 7 is an edge elevation of the keeper plate showing the samemounted upon the door lamb and looking in the direction oi the arrows,as indicated byline 'I---! in Figure 2; l

' Figure B is a. vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure2;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-8 of Figure 4; v Iq Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on'line ill-l0 ofFigure 2.

Byreferring to the drawings,-it will seen that It designates the latchsupport which may be in the nature of a swinging door, sliding drawer,or any other suitable support whereby the latchfwill be supported in amanner to be The latchingfmecha'nism may be placed within" a suitablecase or mounted within a suitable cutoutf portion or cavity ll formed inthe support I! such as a 'door and the like, one side of the cavity l9being closed by-a'suitable panel 20. The present invention, however,relates primarily to the'latch structure and not to the structure of thesupport,-and it is thought neces- 6 sary only to illustrate and to referto one type of mounting. The type of mounting may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and to accommodate themechanism to various uses. This would only require a con- 1 ventionalrearrangement which would fall within the scope of anyone skilled in theart.

An actuating bolt 2| is slidably mounted within the cavity I 8 and ispreferably supported upon a suitable-supporting plate 22 whichsupporting plate 22. is provided with a longitudinally extending trackplate 23 along its upper edge for en-' gaging the upper edge of theactuating boltv 2| and anuptumed lip 24 overlying the lower edge Hand isadapted to ride over the concave-comvex keeper plate 11,185 the latchand support 25 therefor are moved to a closed position as willbe-hereinaiter described. The outer end "of the aperture is formedin thefront plate :1 of the latch-supporting mechanism, which plate 2130latching bolt supporting plate 3| which plate "Si is secured within thecavity [9, as shown.

The plate 3| isalso provided with-an overhanging lip 32 which is struckfrom the body of-. the ,40 plate II and overhangs the upper edge of thelatching bolt"29, as shown in Figures 2 'and 4;

The forward end ofthe latching bolt 28 also passes througha guiding loop33 carried bythe vertical plate is and the forward beveled end 34 of thelatching bolt 29 extends through the aperture 35 locatedabove theaperture 26 in the front plate 21 of the latch supporting mecha nism.The loop 83 also serves as an abutment or stop to limitthe rearwardmovement of the latching bolt to 'a position where its rear end 41 willpermit lug '48 to reseat itself behind the end 41 as will later morefully appear.

An actuating link or lever 26 is pivotally secured to therearend oftheactuating bolt 2! bymeans or a screw 3'! which works in an elongatedslot 33 formed in the lower end of the actuating link or lever 36, asindicated in Figure 4. This slot 33 will allow sufficient play toprevent the binding of the actuating bolt 2|, as the link or lever 33moves. This link or lever 36 is pivotally mounted on a journal pin 33carried by the journal plate 43, the Journal plate 46 being anchoredwithin the cavity l3, as shown, and the journal pin 33 extending atright angles to the plate 40, as shown in detail in Figure 10. Thisjournal pin 33 is provided with an elongated head 4| which normallyextends at right angles to the elongated slot 42 formed in the actuatinglever or link 36, the slot 42 being elongated to permit of'a-slight playof the link or lever 33 upon the journal pin 34 and also to permit theelongated head 4| to slip through the aperture 42 when assembling andprior to the time when the journal plate 40' is anchored in position. Atension spring 43' is secured, as at 44, to the forward edge of the.actuating link or lever- 36 and the opposite endof the spring 43 isanchored, as at 46, to the plate 23. This actuating link or lever 36 isprovided with an abutment lug 43 which is-adapted to engage theinner-end 47 of the latching bolt 23 and hold the latching bolt 23 in aprojected position, shown in Figure 2, until the lug 46 is released fromthe end 41 of-the bolt 23, as will be hereinafter described. It shouldbe noted that the actuating link or lever 36 is shiftable longitudinallyof the journal pin 33 so as to allow the linkor lever 33 to be moved toand from a position to cause the lug 46 to register with or to be tmoved out of alignment with the end 41 of the bolt 23. A flat spring 43is anchored, as at 43, at one end within the cavity I3 and the oppositeend 56 iltswbehind the actuating link or lever 33 near its upper end andadjacent the lug 46 to normally urge the vupper end or the actuatinglever or link 36 toward-the rearend 41 of the.

bolt 23 so as-to cause. the lug 46 to extend behind and in engagementwith one end 41 of the bolt 23. A stop plate 5| is located in the cavity3 to limit the'swinging movement of the actuating leveror link 33 in onedirection.

A push-button lever 52 is rockably journaled within a bracket531'or.rocking action and is located above the latching bolt 23 and toone side oi the actuating link or lever 33. This push-button lever 52carries a push-button 64 at one end which extends through the support I5and normally lies flush with the outer face thereof and the opposite endof the levercarries a push-button 55 which extends throughthe panel 23and normally lies flush therewithvso that the push buttons may bedepressed for the purpose of unlatching the door. The inner end 53 ofthe push? button lever 62 overhangs the upper end of the actuating leveror link 33 and as either one 01' the push-buttons 64 or 65 is depressed,the upper end of the actuating lever or link 33 wur be depressed movingthe lug 46 out oi..- the path of a movement of the inner end 41 ofthtitu 2a and ,allowing the tension spring 61 to automatically pull thebolt 23 to a released position as soon as automatic operation of thelatching bolt in the outer face of the support I6 across the top 01'which extends a gripping plate 66 behind which the fingers may extendfor the purpose of moving the support or door l5 to an open position.The

push-button 54 is preferably located above the socket 53 and the partsare preferably mounted in flush relation to the outer face of; thesupport so as toeliminateobstructlons. It-should be noted'that'thepush-buttons 54and 56 extend through opposite sides of the support suchas a' door, drawer, and the like.

,It should be understood that springs illustrated and described inconnection with the present latch, may be replaced by any suitable ordesired type of spring without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and that the release in the na- :ture of the push-buttons maybe either of a; push'ora pull variety. It should be noted that thepush-buttons merely constitute a releasing means which, when actuated,will permit the movement to a releasedpositionp- I I 4 The operationof'the device'is as follows:

7 For the sake of the description, the operation of the latch will bedescribed as it actuates when a applied to a swinging door, although itshould-be in its clearly understood that the latch may be a'pplied toany type of mechanism wherein the-latch' i moved into and out ofengagementwith'anabut ment for latching the moving'support to an from aclosed position with respect to the abutment. In. the structureillustrated, the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 4 whenthe door is open wherein the actuating bolt 2| extends outwardly throughthe aperture 26. 3 As the door or support I6 is moved to aclosedposltion with respect to the doorjamb or abutment |3 in thedirection-of the arrow as shown in Figj ure 5, the beveled face-25 ofthe actuating-bolt 2| will cause the/actuating bolt-2| to be moved inFigure 2 against the tension of the springs 43 and 51 and also cause thelatching bolt 23 to move outwardly until it'is in alignment with theactuating bolt 2|, when the actuating bolt" 2|, and the latching bolt 23move inwardly in unison. This inward movement of the actuating bolt 2|and latching bolt. 23. will slightly move the actuating lever or link'36bodily inwardly due to the slotted aperture 42 fitting over the journalthe tension of the springs and 61, the actuat- 43 to push against theend 41 or the latching bolt 23 and move this latching bolt 23 forwardly,

the beveled end 25 of the actuating bolt 2| riding over the face of thekeeper plate l1 which is solid at this pointandis not apertured, thismove ment pushing the latching'bolt 23 forwardly and causing the forwardend "of t enlatching bolt ,23 to ride over the face. of the keeper plateI! and be moved into the-notchor aperture ll'of inwardly in thedirection of the "arrow shown pin 33 and as the bolt 2| moves inwardlyagainst ing lever or link 36 will be swung causing the lug.

the? keeper plate thereby firmly latching the door. or support -|5 in aclosed'positio'n; When 1 it is desired to open the door through *themedium of the push-buttons 64 or 663 the operator will place his fingersinto-the socket 63 behind the plate 33 andby Pushing his, thumb againstthe push-button 54, the push-button lever '52 will depress the upper endof the actuating lever whereupon the tension spring '61- 'will auto.matically pull the latching bolt toan unlatched position, In thisposition'prior to swinging the- '16 or link away from the inner end 41of the bolt 23 moving the lug 46 out of the path of the end" door openboth of the bolts II and '20 will be in a retracted position, theactuating bolt II being held retracted. against the tension of thesprings 43 and ll due to the fact that the outer end 2! bears againstthe keeper plate H. the spring I! holding the bolt 2! in a retractedposition. The door may then be swung to an open position whereupon thesprings .43 and II will cause the actuating bolt 2| to protrude to theposition shown in Figure 5, where it will be ready to automaticallyshift the latching bolt to a latching position when the dooris closed.When the latch support i I is movedto an open position, actuating boltII is moved by the tension of spring I! to its normally projectedposition. Since spring 43 holds the link or lever 30 against pin 30 atthis time, link or lever" 3' will be rocked on a as a pivot therebycausing the link or lever to swing its upper end in a counter clockwisedirection in Fig. 2, link or lever 38: being guided in its movementbetween the outer face of spring ll and the inner face of end "untilabutment I6 is free of inner end 41 when the tension of spring ll urgesabutment 46 into operative reseated position behind the end 41. SpringII is so disposed as to provide minimum resistance to the release ofabutment I from end lfinthe latching position, and maximum tension to'urge abutment .8 into reseated position behind the end 41.

As the door is being closed the outer beveled end 25, being projected(see Fig. 5) will engage the keeper plate I! and be forced inwardly.Since spring ll holds link or lever 80 against pin 89 at this time, linkor lever 36 will be rocked on I! "as a pivot thereby causing the link orlever to swing its upper end in a clockwise direction in its beveled end34 will enter recess 18 and latch the door.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple andeiiicient device has been provided for automatically latching a door,

drawer, or the like, and it should be further understood that certaindetail changes in the me- 1 chanical construction may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the'inventionso long as suchchanges fall within the scope of the appended claims.

It should be understood that springs illustrated and described inconnection with the present latch, may be replaced by any suitable ordesired type of spring without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and that the release in the nature'of the push-buttonsmay beeither of a push or a pull variety. It should be noted that "thepush-buttons merely constitute a releasing means which, when actuated,will permit the automatic operation of thelatching bolt in its movementto a released position.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

'1. A latch of the class described comprising a spring-projected.actuating bolt adapted to be pushed back, a-latching bolt, meansactuated by said actuating bolt and operatively engaging said latchingbolt for moving said latching bolt to a latched position, means forreleasing said last mentioned means, spring means for automaticallymoving said latching bolt from a latched position to anunlatchedposition when released, and tracks for supporting said bolts inparallel relation, the outer edges of the tracks lying within the planeof the outer side faces of the adjacent bolts, said spring meansengaging said bolts and holding said bolts firmly upon said tracks. I

.2. A latch of the class described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable movement, an actuating lever, a journal pin, said leverbeing mounted for pivotal and laterally slidable movement on andshiftable longitudinally of said 1 journal pin and pivotally connectedto said actuating bolt, spring means for normally holding said actuatingbolt in an extended yieldable position, a latching bolt, means carriedbysaid actuating lever and adapted to contact with said latching boltfor simultaneously moving said latching bolt to a latching position whensaid actuating bolt is moved to a retracted position, retracting meansfor automatically moving said latching bolt from a latched position to aretracted position when released from said actuating lever, and meansfor shifting said actuating lever out of engagement with said latchingbolt.

3. A latch 'of the class described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable movement.

.a'n actuating lever mounted for pivotal and laterally slidable movementand pivotally connected to said actuating bolt, spring means fornormally holding said actuating bolt in an extended yieldable position,a latching bolt, means carried by said actuating lever and adapted tocontact with said latching .bolt for simultaneously moving said latchingbolt to a latching position when said actuating bolt is moved to aretracted position, means for automatically moving said latching boltfrom a latched position to a retracted position when released from saidactuating lever, and push-button means for moving said actuating leverout of engagement with said latching bolt.

4. A latch of the class described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable movement, an'actuating lever mounted for pivotal movementand pivotally connected to said actuating bolt, spring means fornormally holding said actuating bolt in an extended yieldable position,a

latching bolt, means carried by said actuating lever and adapted tocontact with said latching bolt for simultaneously moving said latchingbolt to a latching position when said actuating bolt is moved to aretracted position, means for automatically moving said latching bolt toa retracted position when released from said actuating lever,push-button means for moving said actuating lever out of engagement withsaid latching bolt, and said latching bolt contacting means comprising alug adapted to engage the rear end of said latching bolt to releasablyhold said latching bolt in an extended position. I

5. A latch of the class'described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable movement, an actuating lever, a j ournal pin, said leverbeing mounted on said pin for pivotal and laterally slidable movementand shiftable longitudinally of said journal pin and pivotally connectedto said actuating bolt, spring means for normally holding said actuatingbolt in an extended yieldable position, a latching bolt, means carriedby said actuating lever and adapted to contact with said latching boltfor simultaneously] moving said latching bolt to a latching positionwhen said actuating bolt is moved to a retracted position, spring meansfor automatically moving said latching bolt from a protracted positionto a retracted position when released from said ac- 51- tuating lever,and means for shifting said actuating lever out of engagement with saidlatching bolt.

6; A latch of the class described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable-movel-*ment, an actuating lever mounted for pivotal andlaterally slidable movement and pivotally connected to said actuatingbolt, spring means for normally holding said actuating bolt in anextended yieldable position, a latching bolt, means uacarried by saidactuating lever and adapted to contact with said latching bolt forsimultaneously moving said latching bolt to a latching position whensaid actuating bolt is moved to are-- tractedposition, means forautomatically mov- :ing said latching bolt from a latched position to aretracted position when released from said actuating lever, push-buttonmeans for movin said actuating lever out of engagement with saidlatching bolt, and guiding tracks for said actuat- 8 ing bolt andlatching bolt, said guiding tracks having their outer edgessubstantially flush with the outer side face of said latching bolt.

7. A latch of the'class described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable movement,

a .an actuating lever mounted for pivotal movement and pivotallyconnected to said actuating bolt, spring means for normally holding saidactuating bolt in an extended yieldable position, a latching bolt, meanscarried by said actuating lever and adapted to contact with saidlatching bolt for simultaneously moving said latching bolt to a latchingposition when said actuating bolt is moved to a retracted position,means for automatically moving said latching bolt to a retracted IO-position when released from'said actuating lever, means for shiftingsaid actuating lever out of engagement with said latching boltcomprising a push-button lever rockably mounted adjacent.

said actuating lever and having one end over- :hanging one end of saidactuating lever, and

oppositely arranged push-buttons carried by the opposite ends of saidpush-button lever.

8. A latch of the class described comprising an actuating bolt mountedfor slidable movement,

n an actuating lever mounted for pivotal movement and pivotallyconnected to said actuating bolt,

spring means for normally holding said actuating bolt in an extendedyieldable position, a latching bolt, abutment means carried by saidactuating lever and adapted to contact with said latching bolt forsimultaneously moving said latching bolt to a latching position whensaid actuating bolt is-moved to a retracted position, means forautomatically moving said latching bolt to a retracted Q position whenreleased from said actuating lever,

manually operated means for moving said actuating lever out ofengagement with said latching bolt.

9. A latch of the class described comprising a I support having anopening edge, a spring-projected inarticulate normally projectedactuating bolt adapted to be repressed adjacent the opening edge of thesupport, an inarticulate latching means. spring means for automaticallymoving said latching bolt from a latched position to an unlatchedposition'when released, and tracks for supporting-said boltsv inparallel relation, the outer edges of the tracks lying within the plane5' of the outer side faces of the adjacent bolts, said tion, aninarticulate latching bolt", the latching $0 face of said latching boltextending substantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis ofsaid latching bolt. means carried by "said actuating lever and adaptedto contact with said latching bolt for simultaneously moving saidlatching bolt 26' to a latching position when said actuating bolt ismoved to a retracted position,.retracting means for automaticallymoving-said latching bolt from a latched position to a retractedposition when released from said means carried by said actuat- 80,

ing lever, andv means for shifting said'means carried by said actuatinglever out of engagement with said latching bolt.

11.,A latch of the class described comprising v aninarticulate normallyprojected actuating bolt mounted for slidable movement, .an actuatinglever mounted for, pivotal and laterally slidable movement and pivotallyconnected tosaid actuating bolt, spring means for-normally holding saidactuating bolt in anextended yieldable posia 4. tion, an inarticulatelatching bolt, the latching face of-said latching bolt extending.substantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidlatching bolt, means carriedby said actuating lever and adapted tocontact. with said latching bolt for simultaneously moving said latchingbolt to a latching position when said actuating bolt is moved to aretracted position, means for auto matically moving said latching boltfrom a latched position to a retracted position'whenre- 3 leased fromsaid means carried by said ctuating lever, and push-button means for mving saidmeans carried by said actuating lever out of en gagement withsaid latching bolt.

' 12. Alatch of the classdescribed comprising ,3

able longitudinally of said journal pin and piv-r otally connected tosaid actuating bolt, spring; means for normally holding saidactuatingbolt in an extendedyieldable position, an inarticulate latchingbolt, the latching ,face of said latching boltextending substantiallyina plane parallel 5 5 to the longitudinal axis of, said latching bolt,means carried by said actuating lever and adapt-'- ed to contact withsaid latching-bolt for simultaneously moving said latching bolt to alatching position when said actuating bolt is moved to a retractedposition, spring means for I automatically moving said latching boltfrom a protracted position to a retracted position when released fromsaid means carried by said ac tuating lever, and means for shifting saidmeans i r carried by said actuating lever out of engagement with saidlatching bolt.

13. A latch of the class described comprising an inarticulate actuatingbolt mounted for slidable movement, an actuating lever mounted forpivotal and laterally slidable movement and pivotally connected to saidactuating bolt, spring means for normally holding said actuating bolt inan extended yieldable position, an inarticulate latching bolt, thelatching face of said latching bolt extending substantially in a planeparallel to the longitudinal axis of said latching bolt, means carriedby said actuating lever and adapted to contact with said latching boltfor simultaneously moving said latching bolt to a latching position whensaid actuating bolt is moved to a retracted position, means forautomatically moving said latching bolt from a latched position to aretracted position when released from said means carried by saidactuating lever, push-button means for moving said means carried by saidactuating lever out of engagement with said latching bolt, and guidingtracks for said actuating bolt and latching bolt, said guiding trackshaving their outer edges substantially flush with the outer face of saidlatching bolt and actuating bolt.

14. In combination with a keeper plate having I a single latching boltreceiving aperture, an inarticulate latching bolt, the latching face ofsaid latching bolt extending substantially in a plane parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said latching bolt, said latching bolt having aprojectable end with a wiping face to wipe over the face of said keeperplate prior to entering the aperture therein, aminarticulate actuatingbolt, said actuatin bolt adapted to be repressed adJacent'the openingedge of the support and having a retractable projecting end adapted towipe over the face of said keeper plate, laterally slidable means forsimultaneously moving said latching bolt into said latching boltreceiving aperture as the outer end of said actuating bolt moves acrosssaid keeper plate, means for releasing said last mentioned means, andmeans for automatically retracting said latching bolt from a latching toan unlatched position when said latching bolt is released, said latchingbolt and said actuating bolt having their wiping faces arranged to wipeover the keeper plate in the same direction.

15. In a latch mechanism of the class described, a support, an actuatingbolt and a latching bolt mounted on said support, means operativelyconnecting said bolts together by virtue of which means, as saidactuating bolt is pushed back, said latching bolt will be projected,means to mount said connecting means for movement bodily in the samedirection as said bolts move when said bolts are moved inwardly inunison and means to effect a release of said latching bolt at will,means to retract said latching bolt when released, and means to projectsaidactuating bolt.

16. In a latch mechanism of the class described, a support, an actuatingbolt and a latching bolt projectable from the same face of and mountedon said support, means continuously tending to project said actuatingbolt and to retract said latching bolt, means mounted on said supportfor operatively connecting said bolts together by virtue of which, assaid actuating bolt is pushed back said latching bolt will be projected,said last named means having provision for its movement laterally whensaid latching bolt meets resistance before said actuating bolt completesits backward movement and means for operatively disconnecting saidlatching bolt from said last named means to permit said continuouslytending means to effect automatic retraction of said latching bolt.

'17. A latch of the class described comprising a support, having anopening edge, an inarticulate normally projected actuating bolt having abeveled face and adapted to be repressed near the opening edge of thesupport, an inarticulate latching bolt having a beveled face, thebeveled faces of the said bolts facing the same way, bodilylaterallyslidable means actuated by the actuating bolt and .operatively engagingsaid latching bolt-for moving said latching bolt to a latching position,means for releasably holding said latching bolt in a latching position,and means automatically to retract said latching bolt when released. v

18. A latch of the class described comprising a support having anopening edge, an inarticulate normally projected actuating bolt having abeveled face and adapted to be repressed near the opening edge of thesupport, an inarticulate latching bolt having a beveled face, thebeveled faces of the said bolts facing the same way,

means actuated by the actuating bolt and opera tively engaging saidlatching bolt for moving said latching bolt to a latching position,means for releasably holding said latching ,bolt in a latching position,and means continuously tend- HAROLD BEATSON KEATS.

